Allow ailing Geelani to go abroad for treatment, appeals HC leaders

Sriangar, Mar 5 (UNI) The breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) today appealed to centre to allow its chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, suffering from Cancer, go abroad for treatment.

Addressing a press conference here this afternoon at the Rajbagh headquarters of the amalgam, the leaders of HC constituent said that Mr Geelani has been advised by the doctors at Apollo Cancer Institute, New Delhi, to go abroad for specialised treatment.

''We appeal that Mr Geelani should be given the travel documents on humanitarian grounds immediately so that he could travel to United States of America or England,'' they said adding that his visit to abroad was nothing to do with the politics.

A senior HC leader said that Geelani was suffering from cancer which needs immediate treatment.

''Though treatment was available in India also, but we do not want to take any chance since he (Geelani) is an asset to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,'' he said.

He said that the passport of Mr Geelani was impounded by the government in 1981 and since then his applications for issuing fresh passport or travel documents were turned down.

The applications are still pending with the Regional Passport Officer (RPO), Srinagar, so there is no need to apply afresh, he said and appealed to centre to issue the travel documents without any further delay.

The results of tests conducted in Apollo hospital were also released to press in which the institute, Dr Sameer Kaul has said that Mr Geelani needs urgent surgical attention in the form of Nephron conserving wedge resection on the right side SOS.

Mr Geelani needs to be observed for treatment of metastatic disease and renal transplantation for which he may travel to US, the doctor said.

The CT of whole abdomen plan and contrast shows that liver is mildly enlarged in size and shows multiple cysts of varying sizes in both lobes without any enhancement '' congenital''.

It further said that duplex right kidney shows compensatory hypertrophy.

The Hurriyat leaders said that one of the kidney of Mr Geelani was removed in 2003 in Mumbai.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has also appealed to Centre to allow Mr Geelani to go abroad for treatment.

United Jehad Council (UJC) chief Syed Salahuuddin has also called for Mr Geelani to be allowed to go abroad for treatment.

UNI